The second half of our trip started well. The cats seemed to be comfortable in the Ikare Pet Carrier I bought for them. With the pullouts on the side, there was plenty of room for two cats and a small litter box. I think three cats would have done well in it. They never used the litter box but we had to deal with cats pooping in their carriers at least twice in the past, so it was worth having.
The second time we stopped I gave them a little food while we were charging the car.
By the time we got to Charleston, West Virginia, we were tired and looking forward to the trip being over. The GPS indicated that we would arrive in forty-five minutes, at 2:37, but then a warning light appeared. The rear passenger tire pressure had dropped to 28 psi. There was an exit ahead, so Rose got in the right lane. I was hoping the tire was just low and I could fill it with my portable tire inflator, but thirty seconds later the pressure dropped to 15 p.s.i.
Fortunately, there was a gas station just off the highway, so we pulled in there. By then, the pressure had dropped to zero.
Rose first called our insurance company, and they put us on hold for a long time as they tried to find someone who could tow a Tesla, which requires a flatbed. While she was doing that, I called Tesla and spoke with a woman who was very nice. Since we were nowhere near a Tesla service center, she tried to help us find a local tire shop that could change a tire. Since Teslas do not come with spare tires, there was no option for changing it on the spot.
After much hemming and hawing, we decided to arrange for a tow truck to bring our car the 41 miles to our house. Tesla would have paid for a tow to a service center, but a tow to our house cost us $370. We did that because there was no room for three people and two cats in the tow truck. If it were just Rose and me, we would have gone straight to a tire shop, if one could have been found that had the right size tires.
Rose called the maintenance supervisor at the property she oversees, which is in the same town as our house. He came to pick up Rose and the cats. Meanwhile, the tow truck arrived a few minutes before he did. The driver was nice enough to wait until he came, then Rose and the cats left while I stayed with the tow truck.
I arrived at the house just before five and spent a fair amount of time bringing all the items from the car to the laundry room, which serves as a buffer zone between the cats and the outside. I couldn’t believe how much stuff that car holds.
I wanted to get a video of the cats exploring the house for the first time in three and a half years, but I was way too late for that. Instead, I got a picture of Frankie finishing his dinner.
Two of the doors on the catio had ripped screens, so we couldn’t let the cats out there, which was a shame because they loved that catio. Frankie discovered the room that used to be my office, but now contained much of the stuff that we left behind.
Unfortunately, our renters moved bedding that they didn’t want into that room. They also moved heavy furniture from downstairs to upstairs and other furniture from upstairs to downstairs, so we had to move them back over the next couple of days.
We found a cat perch that Frankie took to and spent much of the remaining Saturday on. I don’t remember that perch, but I am getting old.
On Sunday, I found a large screen in the garage and slid it in front of the doors. Since my tools and everything else we had in storage won’t be here until sometime this week, that will have to do for the cats to enjoy the catio.
I took Frankie for a walk on Sunday. I wanted him to get used to the area but he just wanted to stay near home for some reason.
We went for a walk yesterday, too. That time we walked down the alley until the end, then came back down the next street. He wants to go out today, but there is a cold drizzle right now.
All the tire shops were closed for Memorial Day weekend, so I made several calls to shops this morning, but none had the right size tires, which are over $500 each, by the way. When did tires get so expensive? One shop in Parkersburg ordered them and will be here sometime tomorrow. I will then have to travel with the tow truck driver for forty minutes. That is the downside of living in a small town.
Tomorrow will be four days without a car at a time when we need supplies. We learned Walmart delivers, so we have been ordering stuff from them. The interesting thing is that there are no Kroger stores near us in Florida, but we can still order Kroger delivery. Here, there is a Kroger in the next town, but we can’t get delivery from them.
Anyway, the good news is we are here and safe. Ultimately, that is what matters.
Bad Cat Chris 
That was a difficult tire, and expensive. Why there is no spare tire in Tesla, it would help a lot.
Maybe they are too difficult to change. We were at a tire shop after getting a nail in the tire but even they couldn’t help us because they didn’t have the right equipment to lift the car. We thought providing run-flat tires would be a good option but apparently the car is too heavy for that.
Glad you made it safe and sound, but Frankie looks like how I feel after reading this! Whew–what a drive. And so close to home, too!
Another 41 miles and we would have made it.
What an ordeal. Mom and Dad have been in similar situations twice. Once with our two small dogs in the middle of Texas. The engine blew on Mom’s Fiat. Two weeks later, they were finallly heading home again! Mom says she thinks it is ridiculous that some cars no longer come with spare tires. We are happy all of you made it to your house safe and sound. That is always what is most important. Hope everything works out. XOCK, angels Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta & Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy, Sawyer, Kizmet, Audrey & Raleigh
Thanks. I agree. They need to provide a spare and make it easier to change the tire.
glad you finally made it to your house; this will be a move no one will soon forget 🙀
That’s an understatement. Thanks.
What a convoluted way to get to your destination and then even more when you needed service. I guess we have Covid to thank for the delivery services…but isn’t that weird about Kroger??
Good to know all is well and safe, except maybe your wallets, LOL!
Oh, yeah. Our wallet is hurting now.
All’s well that ends well … presuming by now, this has all ended! Here’s to a happy and trouble free summer … my son, over just outside of Orlando, is a Two-Tesla owner, forwarded your post to him as a “lesson to be learned”. Glad the kitties survived it all, of course, they didn’t have to dip into their bank accounts did they?
Thanks. It should be over by the end of tomorrow. Cross your fingers.
Such an ordeal. Glad you finally got there.
Thanks.
With travel, it’s always something. May your next trip be less adventurous.
Thank You.
WOW…….you certainly got a bit more “adventure” than you wanted! Sounds like you’ve figured out everything you needed to figure out though and in short order you’ll have things the way you want them (hopefully). $500 for a tire is a bit steep but from what little I know of Tesla nothing about them is cheap including the tires! Anyway, hope things continue to settle down and get into a comfortable routine for you all soon!!!
Hugs, Pam and Teddy
Thank you.
Oh the joy of traveling! I’m so glad you got everyone home though.
Thanks.
Car trouble on a trip is the worst. You’re stuck in one spot until it’s fixed. Sounds like your Tesla’s in the same boat as my son’s Subaru. There is no such thing as an inexpensive repair.
Nope. Not with cars or houses.